Flat Roofing 101 – Everything You Need To Know About Flat Roofing

A flat roof, also known as a low-pitch roof, is horizontal in nature and sits atop a building, be it a home, office, school, or other property. Most commonly, they have been used for residential dwellings across the globe.

Flat roofs are available in a broad selection of materials, from EPDM and felt to GRP and PVC. Each flat roofing membrane has their merits and usage tends to vary in line with the property owner’s requirements, local climate and budget etc.

In countries which experience a predominately warm climate, a preference may lay in the form of simple concrete based roofs which provide a cost effective solution and help to keep the heat out. In contrast, in cooler climates there will be a greater need for weather and leak proofing and alternative membranes are used accordingly.

In simple terms, flat roofing membranes serve to waterproof a roof and protect it from the elements e.g. rain, snow, hail etc. throughout the year.

Flat vs. Pitched Roofs

Flat roofs are considered to be a viable alternative to pitched (sloped) roofs. They are easier to maintain and inspect as well as being far quicker to install than their pitched counterparts. Due to the speedier installation process, they can also offer considerable cost saving benefits. Furthermore, flat roofs serve to make better use of space e.g. by minimising the amount of so-called “dead space” common with pitched roofs and by creating new and usable outdoor space in the process (e.g. which lends itself to becoming a roof terrace or balcony area).

Flat Roofing Materials Explored

As previously stated, there are a variety of flat roofing materials available on the market and knowing which to opt for requires some basic education and research.

We’ve listed below a few key advantages and disadvantages of various roofing materials to help with your decision making:

1. EPDM

• Safe, simple installation process
• Long lifespan, lower lifetime cost
• UV resistant
• Doesn’t crack or craze
• Sustainable & recyclable
• Requires professional installation

2. Felt

• Low cost, popular solution
• Suitable for jobs of any size
• Installation risk due to use of gas flames or bitumen pot
• Chipping based felts can block gutters and encourage moss growth
• Prone to cracking over time
• Limited lifespan

3. GRP

• Available in various colours and finishes
• Long lifespan
• UV resistant
• Lengthy and labour intensive to install = high installation cost
• Prone to cracking
• Amplifies noise such as rain and hail fall due to the hard surface

4. PVC

• Eco-friendly and recyclable roofing solution
• Initially UV resistant (degrades over time however)
• Lengthy and labour intensive to install = high installation cost
• Installation risk due to hot welding method
• Can be heavily affected by ponding water

Flat Roof Health & Maintenance Duties

With regards to the long term health of your flat roof, effective drainage is critical and functional drainage and guttering systems should be in place. These should be regularly maintained to protect against ponding water. This is because ponding water will place undue strain on the roof and will be detrimental to its health. For example, by contributing to the formation of cracks and causing subsequent leaks.

In order to effectively care for your flat roof and ensure longevity, regular maintenance duties should be undertaken. This includes:

• Regularly inspecting the roof for obvious signs of wear and tear e.g. cracking.
• Removing ponding and excess water – the roof should always be checked after a storm/heavy rainfall/snowfall etc.
• Clearing the guttering and drainage systems – ensure they are free of debris such as leaves as these can serve to clog the gutters up.
• Consider outsourcing your roofing maintenance duties to a professional roofing contractor

Finding A Flat Roofing Contractor

Once you have reached a decision on the type of roofing system to opt for, it will be important to shortlist professional contractors and obtain quotes.

Finding a flat roofing contractor can be easy if you know where to look.

With this in mind, we suggest that you:

• Ask around for a personal recommendation – ask your relatives, friends, work colleagues and neighbours etc. Chances are that at least one of your contacts has had a flat roof installed in recent years.
• Search online for roofing contractors in your area
• Trawl the Yellow Pages or trusty Thomson Local!
• Use a site such as RatedPeople.com, MyBuilder.com or TrustATrader.com to find a suitable tradesman in your area

Once you’ve made a shortlist, identify your requirements and obtain a comparable quote from all parties. Take the time to find out more about the company and seek out recommendations, testimonials and case studies where possible. Any credible tradesman will be keen to showcase their previous projects in order to obtain new business, so don’t be afraid to dig deep and ask for this information.

We wish you the best of luck when sourcing a reputable local roofing contractor and with your flat roofing system installation process.

If you feel that ClassicBond may be the roofing membrane for you, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss your unique flat roofing requirements today!